silken
gb/sˈɪlkən/ us/sˈɪlkən/
B2
English
~ 27700
Senses
0 senses
adjective
B2
property
1
made from silk fabric
Made of silk cloth.
Usage pattern:
[silken] [item made of fabric]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use 'silken' for any soft cloth, even when it is not made of silk. If you only mean that something feels soft, and it is not really silk, 'silky' or 'soft' is usually better.
Synonyms
silk (Used as a noun or before another noun (a silk dress); less literary than 'silken'.)
|
silky (Very common everyday word; often describes feel or look, not always the actual material.)
Antonyms
cotton (Names a different common fabric; contrasts with things made of silk.)
|
woolen (Specifically made of wool, highlighting a non-silk, heavier material.)
Collocations
silken scarf
|silken dress
|silken robe
|silken thread
|silken cushion
|silken banner
Themes
materials
|fashion
|home
|clothing
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She wore a flowing silken dress that shimmered in the light.
- A long silken banner hung from the balcony above the stage.
- The tailor chose the finest silken thread for the embroidery.
- Guests were seated on low silken cushions around the table.
- He wrapped the gift in a small silken pouch.
Learner examples
- She put on a red silken scarf.
- The king sat on a chair with a silken seat.
- I bought a silken tie for the wedding.
- The artist used a thin silken cloth for the picture.
- Her silken blouse was very soft and light.
adjective
literary
B2
property
2
smooth and soft like silk
Very smooth and soft, like silk, often used for hair, skin, or a voice.
Usage pattern:
[silken] [hair/skin/voice/touch/tones]
Common mistake:
Learners often use only 'silky' and do not recognize 'silken' as a more literary or poetic choice. Also, some learners try to use 'silken' as a verb (e.g. *to silken the surface*), which is not natural; use 'make silky' or 'make smooth' instead.
Synonyms
silky (More common and everyday; 'silken' sounds more poetic or literary.)
|
velvety (Suggests rich smoothness, especially in voices or textures, but implies a thicker feel than 'silken'.)
|
smooth (More general and less expressive; does not automatically suggest luxury.)
Antonyms
rough (Describes a harsh or uneven texture or sound, the opposite of smooth and soft.)
|
harsh (Opposite for sound or manner; suggests something unpleasant to hear or feel.)
Collocations
silken hair
|silken skin
|silken voice
|silken tones
|silken touch
Themes
appearance
|feelings
|arts
|core_vocabulary
|communication
Examples
- Her silken hair slipped through his fingers.
- The singer’s silken voice filled the dark theater.
- He greeted us with silken manners that felt a little too perfect.
- A silken calm settled over the city after the storm.
- The dessert had a silken texture that melted on the tongue.
Learner examples
- The baby’s skin felt silken and warm.
- He spoke in a low, silken voice.
- The cream makes your hair feel silken.
- The soup was thick and silken in my mouth.
- Soft music gave the room a silken mood.
Grammar
Dictionary form
silken
IPA
GB/sˈɪlkən/
US/sˈɪlkən/
Syllables & stress
silken (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (silken)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: silken
Word family
Core family
silk
noun B1
silky
adjective
Related words
silkworm
noun
Advanced or less common
silkily
adverb
silkiness
noun
Expressions
No expressions linked to this entry yet.